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| United States Patent |
5,251,463
|
|
Lonati
, et al.
|
October 12, 1993
|
Thread guide structure for circular knitting machine, in particular for
line-forming units in double-cylinder machines for manufacturing socks
and stockings
Abstract
The thread guide structure for double-cylinder circular knitting machines
comprises a thread guide body which has an elongated configuration and
has, proximate to one of its longitudinal ends, a thread dispensing
passage. The thread guide body has a first part and a second part which
are mutually articulated proximate to an intermediate region of the thread
guide body. The first part, which is provided with the thread dispensing
passage, is oscillatable with respect to the second part about an
oscillation axis which is arranged transversely to the longitudinal
extension of the thread guide body.
| Inventors:
|
Lonati; Francesco (Brescia, IT);
Lonati; Ettore (Brescia, IT);
Lonati; Fausto (Brescia, IT);
Lonati; Tiberio (Brescia, IT)
|
| Assignee:
|
Lonati S.r.l. (Brescia, IT)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
944763 |
| Filed:
|
September 14, 1992 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Sep 19, 1991[IT] | 91 A002476 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
66/140R; 66/138 |
| Intern'l Class: |
D04B 015/60 |
| Field of Search: |
66/133,138,139,140 R
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| 2885874 | May., 1959 | Polach | 66/140.
|
| 3331220 | Jul., 1967 | Bastuscheck et al. | 66/140.
|
| 3555855 | Jan., 1971 | Billi | 66/138.
|
| 4391105 | Jul., 1983 | Lonati | 66/138.
|
| 5046333 | Sep., 1991 | Sawazaki et al. | 66/140.
|
| 5070709 | Dec., 1991 | Guell | 66/140.
|
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 1102631 | Oct., 1955 | FR.
| |
| 2198496 | Mar., 1974 | FR.
| |
| 542526 | Jan., 1942 | GB.
| |
| 2155505 | Sep., 1985 | GB.
| |
Primary Examiner: Crowder; Clifford D.
Assistant Examiner: Calvert; John J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Modiano; Guido, Josif; Albert
Claims
We claim:
1. Thread guide structure for circular knitting machines comprising a
thread guide body having an elongated configuration and, proximate to a
longitudinal end, a thread dispensing passage, wherein said thread guide
body has at least one first part and one second part mutually articulated
proximate to an intermediate region of the thread guide body, said first
part provided with said thread dispensing passage and oscillatable with
respect to said second part about an oscillation axis arranged
transversely to a longitudinal extension of said thread guide body,
wherein said thread guide body is mounted on a supporting element
oscillatable associated with a supporting block for oscillation of the
thread guide in a plane about the oscillation axis of said supporting
element with respect to said supporting block, said first part of the
thread guide body being pivoted to said second part about an axis
substantially parallel to the plane of oscillation of the thread guide for
an oscillation of said first part in a plane substantially perpendicular
to the plane of oscillation of the thread guide.
2. Thread guide structure, according to claim 1, wherein said supporting
element is associated with said supporting block by means of a pivot
arranged transversely to the extension of the thread guide body and
substantially at right angles to the oscillation axis of said first part
with respect to said second part, said pivot slidably passing through a
slot defined in said second part and having a configuration elongated
along a direction parallel to the longitudinal extension of the thread
guide body.
3. Thread guide structure for circular knitting machines comprising;
a support block (16)
a thread guide body (2) having a longitudinal extension and oscillatably
connected to said support block (16) at a pivot axis (15a);
at least one first part (4) and one second part (5) defined by said thread
guide body (2) and being mutually articulated proximate to an intermediate
region of the thread guide body (2);
a thread dispensing passage (3) located proximate to a longitudinal end of
said first part (4) of said thread guide body (2);
an oscillation axis (6a) arranged transversely with respect to said
longitudinal extension of said thread guide body (2), said first part (4)
and said thread dispensing passage (3) being oscillatable with respect to
said second part (5) about said oscillation axis (6a).
4. Thread guide structure according to claim 3, wherein said oscillation
axis (6a) is perpendicular to said pivot axis (15a).
5. Thread guide structure according to claim 3, wherein said first part
defines opposite wings (7a, 7b), a portion of said second part (5) being
inserted between said wings (7a, 7b) and connected thereto by a pivot
member (6), said pivot member (6) defining said oscillation axis (6a).
6. Thread guide structure according to claim 5, wherein said first part (4)
has connected thereto an abutment (9), said portion of said second part
(5) inserted between said wings (7a, 7b) cooperating with said abutment
(9) for delimiting oscillation of said first part (4) with respect to said
second part (5).
7. Thread guide structure according to claim 5, wherein said first part (4)
has connected thereto an abutment (9), and wherein said second part has
defined therein a seat (11), said seat (11) housing elastic return means
(10), said portion of said second part (5) inserted between said wings
(7a, 7b) cooperating with said abutment (9) for delimiting oscillation of
said first part (4) with respect to said second part (5), said first part
(4) cooperating with said elastic return means (10) for contrasting said
oscillation of said first part (4) with respect to said second part (5)
about said oscillation axis (6a).
8. Thread guide according to claim 3, wherein said first part (4) of said
thread guide body (2) comprises two pieces interconnected by a male thread
(12) and a female thread (13), said male thread (12) and said female
thread (13) each having an axis parallel to said elongated configuration
of said thread guide body (2), whereby to permit thread guide length
calibration.
9. Thread guide structure according to claim 3, wherein said thread guide
body (2) is mounted on a supporting element (14), said supporting element
(14) being pivotally connected to said supporting block (16) at said pivot
axis (15a).
10. Thread guide structure according to claim 9, further comprising;
a seat (17) defined in said supporting element (14), said first part (4)
being slideably coupled to said seat (17);
an elongate slot (18) defined in said second part (5) and extending
parallel to said longitudinal extension of said thread guide body (2),
a pivot (15) traversing said elongate slot (18) and defining said pivot
axis (15a), whereby to delimit sliding of said thread guide body (2) with
respect to said supporting element (14).
11. In combination, a circular knitting machine (23) having a needle
cylinder (23) defining a needle cylinder axis (23a), and a thread guide
comprising;
a support block (16) connected to said circular knitting machine (23);
a thread guide body (2) having a longitudinal extension and oscillatably
connected to said support block (16) at a pivot axis (15a);
at least one first part (4) and one second part (5) defined by said thread
guide body (2) and being mutually articulated proximate to an intermediate
region of the thread guide body (2);
a thread dispensing passage (3) located proximate to a longitudinal end of
said first part 4) of said thread guide body (2);
an oscillation axis (6a) arranged transversely with respect to said
longitudinal extension of said thread guide body (2), aid first part (4)
and said thread dispensing passage (3) being oscillatable with respect to
said second part (5) about said oscillation axis (6a).
12. Combination according to claim 11, wherein said pivot axis (15a) is
substantially parallel to said needle cylinder axis (23a).
13. Combination according to claim 11, wherein said pivot axis (15a) is
inclined with respect to said needle cylinder axis (23a).
14. Combination according to claim 11, wherein said oscillation axis (6a)
is perpendicular to said pivot axis (15a).
15. Combination according to claim 11, wherein said first part defines
opposite wings (7a, 7b), a portion of said second part (5) being inserted
between said wings (7a, 7b) and connected thereto by a pivot member (6),
said pivot member (6) defining said oscillation axis (6a).
16. Combination according to claim 15, wherein said first part (4) has
connected thereto an abutment (9), said portion of said second part (5)
inserted between said wings (7a, 7b) cooperating with said abutment (9)
for delimiting oscillation of said first part (4) with respect to said
second part (5).
17. Combination according to claim 15, wherein said first part (4) has
connected thereto an abutment (9), and wherein said second part has
defined therein a seat (11), said seat (11) housing elastic return means
(10), said portion of said second part (5) inserted between said wings
(7a, 7b) cooperating with said abutment (9) for delimiting oscillation of
said first part (4) with respect to said second part (5), said first part
(4) cooperating with said elastic return means (10) for contrasting said
oscillation of said first part (4) with respect to said second part (5)
about said oscillation axis (6a).
18. Combination to claim 11, wherein said first part (4) of said thread
guide body (2) comprises two pieces interconnected by a male thread (12)
and a female thread (13), said male thread (12) and said female thread
(13) each having an axis parallel to said elongated configuration of said
thread guide body (2), whereby to permit thread guide length calibration.
19. Combination according to claim 11, wherein said thread guide body (2)
is mounted on a supporting element (14), said supporting element (14)
being pivotally connected to said supporting block (16) at said pivot axis
(15a).
20. Combination according to claim 19, further comprising;
a seat (17) defined in said supporting element (14), said first part (4)
being slideably coupled to said seat (17);
an elongate slot (18) defined in said second part (5) and extending
parallel to said longitudinal extension of said thread guide body (2),
a pivot (15) traversing said elongate slot (18) and defining said pivot
axis (15a), whereby to delimit sliding of said thread guide body (2) with
respect to said supporting element (14).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a thread guide structure for circular
knitting machines, in particular for line-forming, units in
double-cylinder machines for manufacturing socks and stockings.
As is known, in double-cylinder circular knitting machines the thread is
fed to the needles of the machine by sets of thread guides, also known as
line-forming units, which are arranged at each feeding station of the
machine laterally to the needle cylinders. In known line-forming units,
each thread guide can be actuated individually in order to pass from an
inactive position, wherein its thread dispensing end is spaced from the
needle cylinders so as to prevent the needles from engaging the thread, to
an active position, wherein the thread dispensing end is moved closer to
the needle cylinders in order to allow the correct feeding of the thread
to the needles.
By means of line-forming units it is possible to feed, to a same feed of
the machine, threads having different colors, counts and components, so as
to meet the various production requirements.
The passage of each thread guide from the inactive position to the active
position is obtained with various types of actuation device which cause an
oscillation of the thread guide about an axis which is parallel to the
axis of the needle cylinders and subsequently a translatory motion of the
thread guide toward the needle cylinders.
In some kinds of knitting it is necessary to feed the machine with two or
more thread guides of a same line-forming unit; in order to allow the
needles to correctly engage the threads, the thread delivery ends of said
thread guides must be extremely close to each other in the active
position.
Furthermore, in some cases the thread guide which is subsequently actuated
must pass over a thread guide which has been actuated previously and is
thus already in the active position.
In order to achieve this effect, the line-forming unit is provided, on the
opposite side with respect to the needle cylinders, with a plate in which
an appropriate path is defined; the thread guide engages said path so
that, in moving from the inactive position to the active position, or vice
versa, it follows said path and thus does not interfere with any thread
guide which might be already in the active position. The use of plates in
which thread guide paths are defined complicates the manufacture of the
line-forming units and the calibration of the thread guides. Furthermore,
precision in the actuation of the thread guides decreases in the course of
time due to the unavoidable wear of said plates.
Another problem which can be observed in the use of these plates is linked
to the increase in bulk which they entail in the line-forming units in a
region of the machine where space problems are particularly important.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above
by providing a thread guide with such a structure as to require no guides
in order to pass over any other thread guides which are already active in
a same line-forming unit or, more generally, obstacles located along the
path which it must follow in order to move from the inactive position to
the active position or vice versa.
Within the scope of this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a
thread guide with such a structure as to considerably simplify the
manufacture and calibration of line-forming units in knitting machines.
Another object of the invention is to provide a thread guide with good
operating precision.
A further object of the invention is to provide a thread guide which has
competitive production costs.
This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter
are achieved by a thread guide structure for circular knitting machines,
in particular for line-forming units in double-cylinder circular knitting
machines for manufacturing socks and stockings comprising a thread guide
body having an elongated configuration and, proximate to one of its
longitudinal ends, a thread dispensing passage, characterized in that said
thread guide body is constituted at least by one first part and by one
second part which are mutually articulated proximate to an intermediate
region of the thread guide body, said first part being provided with said
thread dispensing passage and being oscillatable with respect to said
second part about an oscillation axis arranged transversely to the
longitudinal extension of said thread guide body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment
of the thread guide structure according to the invention, illustrated only
by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a partially sectional lateral elevation view of a line-forming
unit which is arranged laterally close to the needle cylinders of a
double-cylinder knitting machine with two thread guides according to the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a thread guide according to the invention;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of FIG. 2, taken along the plane III--III;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view, taken similarly to FIG. 3, which shows the
oscillation of the first part of the thread guide body with respect to the
second part thereof;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of FIG. 4, taken along the axis V--V;
FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of FIG. 2, taken along the plane
VI--VI.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to the above figures, the thread guide having the structure
according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral
1, comprises a thread guide body 2 which is substantially rod-like and
has, at one of its longitudinal ends, a passage 3 for dispensing the
thread 40.
According to the invention, the body 2 is constituted by at least one first
part 4 and by at least one second part 5 which are mutually articulated
proximate to an intermediate region of the thread guide body. The first
part 4, which is provided with the dispensing passage 3, can oscillate
with respect to the second part 5 about an oscillation axis 6a which is
arranged transversely to the longitudinal extension of the thread guide
body 2.
More particularly, the first part 4 is substantially C-shaped proximate to
the second part 5, with two opposite wings 7a and 7b between which a
portion of the second part 5 is inserted. The wings 7a and 7b of the first
part 4 are associated, so as to be able to rotate, with the second part 5
by means of a pivot 6 which defines the oscillation axis 6a.
The portion of the second part 5 which is arranged between the wings 7a and
7b extends along the first part 4 beyond the pivot 6 so as to define a
supporting region 8 for a stop abutment 9 provided in the first part 4 so
as to delimit the oscillation arc, in one direction, of the first part 4
with respect to the second part 5.
The oscillation arc of the first part 4 with respect to the second part 5
in the opposite direction is delimited by a spring 10 which rests against
the lower side of the first o part 4 and is accommodated in an appropriate
seat 11 defined in the back of the second part 5. The spring 10 is
arranged, with respect to the pivot 6, on the opposite side with respect
to the stop abutment 9 so as to act as elastic return means which
contrasts the oscillation of the first part 4 with respect to the second
part 5.
In this manner, the first part 4 can oscillate with respect to the second
part 5 about the oscillation axis 6a from a first position, wherein the
first part 4 is substantially aligned with the second part 5, to a second
position, wherein the first part 4 is inclined with respect to the second
part 5, and the oscillation of the first part 4 in order to move from the
first position to the second position is elastically contrasted by the
spring 10.
Conveniently, the first part 4 is manufactured in two pieces which are
mutually associated by means of a coupling constituted by a male thread 12
and a female thread 13 whose axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of
the thread guide body, so as to allow to calibrate the useful length of
the thread guide.
The thread guide body 2 is mounted on a supporting element 14 which is
associated, by means of a pivot 15, with a supporting block 16 so as to be
oscillatable, with respect to the supporting block 16, about the axis 15a
of the pivot 15.
The axis 15a is arranged transversely to the longitudinal extension of the
thread guide and is perpendicular to the axis 6a of the pivot 6 so that
the thread guide can oscillate, together with the supporting element 14,
about the axis 15a in a plane and so that the first part 4 can oscillate,
with respect to the second part 5, about the axis 6a in a plane which is
perpendicular to the plane of oscillation of the thread guide as a whole.
The thread guide body 2 is furthermore coupled to the supporting element 14
so as to be slidable along a direction which is parallel to its
longitudinal extension.
More particularly, the first part 5 is coupled, so as to be longitudinally
slidable, within a seat 17 defined in the supporting element 14.
A slot 18 is defined in the second part 5 and is elongated along a
direction which is parallel to the longitudinal extension of the thread
guide; said slot is crossed by the pivot 15 which, in this manner,
delimits the length of the sliding of the thread guide body with respect
to the supporting element 14.
The thread guide body slides toward its thread dispensing end against the
biasing action of a spring 19 which is inserted in an appropriate seat 20
defined in the supporting element 14 and acts with one of its ends against
a shoulder 21 of the second part 5.
The thread guide according to the invention can be actuated with known
actuation means, for example fluid-activated cylinders, electromagnetic
actuators, cams, which act on the thread guide body 2 and/or on the
supporting element 14 so as to cause the oscillation of the thread guide
about the axis 15a and the sliding of the thread guide body parallel to
its longitudinal extension with respect to the supporting element 14.
Merely by way of example, FIG. 1 shows a line-forming unit, generally
designated by the reference numeral 22, which is equipped with two thread
guides 1 according to the invention and laterally faces the needle
cylinders 23 of a double-cylinder circular knitting machine.
In this application, the thread guide according to the invention is
arranged so that its axis 15a is substantially parallel to the axis 23a of
the needle cylinders 23 or slightly inclined so as to cause the thread
dispensing ends of a plurality of thread guides to converge in the
direction of the needle cylinders.
In this manner, in order to pass from the inactive position to the active
position, each thread guide of the line-forming unit, as in known
line-forming units, oscillates, for example by virtue of the action of
known actuation means, in a plane which is substantially perpendicular or
inclined with respect to the axis 23a, and the thread guide body is moved
longitudinally in order to move its end for delivering the thread 40
closer to the needle cylinders.
For the sake of completeness in description, it should be noted that FIG. 1
shows, merely by way of example, two fluid-activated actuators 24 and 25
for the actuation of the thread guides. Naturally, the actuation of the
thread guide according to the invention could also be obtained with
electromagnetic actuators, cams, etc.
The operation of the thread guide according to the invention is as follows.
As already described, in order to be moved from the inactive position to
the active position, the thread guide 1 is caused to oscillate about the
axis 15a and subsequently the thread guide body 2 is moved longitudinally.
If the first part 4 of the thread guide encounters a thread guide which is
already active during this movement, the impact against said thread guide
causes the oscillation of the first part 4 with respect to the second part
5. In this manner, the first part 4 of the thread guide which is actuated
subsequently can surmount the previously actuated thread guide or in any
case rest above it or below it, according to requirements.
Naturally, by fitting a same line-forming unit with a plurality of thread
guides according to the invention, the surmounting action can occur by
virtue of the oscillation of the first part 4 of the subsequently actuated
thread guide or due to the oscillation of the first part 4 of the
previously actuated thread guide.
In practice it has been observed that the thread guide according to the
invention fully achieves the intended aim, since by virtue, of the fact
that its body is manufactured in two mutually articulated parts, it can
surmount other thread guides which are already active, or obstacles in
general, without requiring the use of any guide.
The thread guide thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications
and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive
concept; thus, for example, the first part 4 can be articulated to the
second part 5 so as to be oscillatable in the direction opposite to the
one shown; furthermore, all the details may be replaced with technically
equivalent elements.
In practice, the materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any
according to the requirements and the state of the art.
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